Francine Fox

Francine Fox had a relatively short career but a highly successful one. Her first national championship came in 1962 when she won the K-1 event, aged only 13 years. But most of her successes came in the pairs and fours events, partnered by Gloria Perrier. With Perrier she won the U.S. title in the K-2 from 1963 until 1965 and paddled with her in a K-4 boat to win the 1965 title in that discipline. At the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Francine Fox and Gloria Perrier paddled to a Silver Medal, trailing a German pair by two seconds. The pairing was interesting for the disparity in ages, as, in 1964, Fox was a 15-year-old high school student, while Perrier was 20 years older.